Farmland Forecast

Weekly USDA Crop Progress: 55% of corn emerged, but one-third in less than good condition

May 18, 2010

Yesterday, the USDA released its weekly planting progress report. Progress in corn planting is almost complete across the 18 primary producing states. During the last week, 6% of the entire corn crop was planted; bringing the total planted crop at 87%. This compares to a 5 year historical average of 78% in similar time periods, and 2009’s estimate of 61%.

The USDA estimated corn emergence of 55% for the 2010 crop, which is significantly above both the 5 year historical average of 39% and the 2009 estimate of 28%. 66% of the corn crop is in good or excellent condition, while 27% is in fair condition and 6% is in poor or very poor condition.

Of the 18 primary soybean producing states, 38% of soybeans have been planted, and 13% have already emerged. The 5 year historical average is 35% planted and 9% emerged. By this week last year, 23% of the soybean crop had been planted and 5% had emerged.

The planting of spring wheat continued on pace with the 5 year historical average, bringing the 2010 planting progress of 79% almost equal to the 5 year historical average of 80%. By this time last year, 49% of the spring wheat crop had been planted. Spring wheat emergence is ahead of schedule. The USDA estimated that 55% of the crop has emerged already, compared to the 5 year historical average of 47% and last year’s 21%.

The winter wheat crop continues to be in above average condition. 66% of the winter wheat crop is in good or excellent condition, while only 8% is in poor or very poor condition. Last year, 48% of the crop was in good or excellent condition while 26% was in poor or very poor condition. The percent of headed winter wheat for this year’s crop was at 52% this week, which is 2% less than in 2009. The 5 year historical average is 56% for the week.

Corn prices decreased 2.2% over the past week ending at $3.56 per bushel and soybeans were down 0.3% to $9.48 per bushel due to falling prices last Friday. Year-over-year corn prices are down 18.5% and soybeans are off 21.0%.

Next week we look forward to continuing our reporting of USDA estimates of corn and soybean conditions, along with the usual planting progress.